Anode mold



J. G. HU EY M0133 oms 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15,4945

INV ENTOR'.

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Patented June 19, 1945 James G. Huey, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, Birmingham, Ala.,'a corporation of Alabama Application October 15, 1943, Serial No. 506,413

'2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in.

metal molds which, while notlimited thereto, are peculiarly well suited for the casing of anodes such as those used for depositing tin on acathode in a conventional form of electrolytic process.

One object of the invention is to provide a metal mold structure whose parts are so constructed and arranged that they can be readily separated to free the work from the mold and yet be securely held in proper assembled-relation. 1

Another object of the invention is to so form the component parts of the mold structure :thatthey will accurately interfit and bear proper assembled relation with each other. r

The above and further more detailed aspects of the invention will be fully apparent from con sideration of the following detailed disclosure and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,

In the. drawings: y Y Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the mold of the present invention in pouring position. V

Figure '2 is an enlarged cross section on line IIII of Figure 1.-

structure being supported ing from the lower legs of Figure 3 is a, longitudinal section through the mold, taken on line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view of an anode cast in a mold of the present invention, the dotted lines illustrating the portion normally cropped off.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating a modification.

Figure 6 is a cross section on line VI-VI Figure 5.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, my improved mold comprises complementary sections l0 and I2, which are of substantially right-angular form in cross section, so that they jointly define a rectangular cavity l4 corresponding to the desired cross-sectional'rectangular contour of the anode to be cast. The

section l2 of the mold is formed along two of I its inner edges with accurately finished grooves l6 and I8. forming seats for machined edge por tions 20 and 22 formed at the extremities of the angle legs of the section In.

upper portion of the another when in'the normal inclined position of Figure-1 by the end plate.

As shown in Figure 1, in casting position the mold rests on a suitable 28, the lower end of the by the end plate 24 resting on the floor 30. The lower section l2 of the mold is of slightly greater length than the section In, so' as to provide an upper; pouring portion 32.

Quickly releasable means are preferably provided for firmly clamping the mold sections in assembled relation. By way of illustration, this clamping means may take the form or a plusupport such as a horse ,rality of yoke-like members 34 pivoted on studs 36 carried in lugs 38 extending outwardly from one of the angle legs of the mold section l2. The free end of each yoke 34 is provided with a hub 40 which is internally threaded to receive a clamp screw 42 adapted to be manipulated by a suitable socket wrench. Similar yokes 35 are pivotally mounted on studs 36 secured on lugs 38 branchthe angle of section l2, said yokes being provided with clamp screws 42 As thus arranged it is apparent that when the screws 42 and 42 are tightened by means of a wrench, the sections I0 and I2 will be firmly held in assembled relation, one set of clamp screws acting in a direction at to the other set, thus firmly holding the portions 20 and 22 in the seats l6 and 18 and yet providing an arrangement wherein upon release of the clamp from the work. To facilitate such stripping fur-' ther, the mold section I0 is provided with a lifting eye 44 adapted to be engaged by a hook '46 j suspended from a, chain operated b-y'an overhead hoist. The inner portion of mold section lllwill be provided with an insert 48 adapted to form the undercut recess 5!] in the anode shown in Figure 4. Similarly, a false plate 52 will be secured to the mold section l2 so as to form the notch 54 in the anode to be cast. Obviously other formations of mold inserts may be em.-

ployed to suit the requirements of the particular work to be done. The pieces 48 and 52 may be cast integral with the mold sections, or they may be formed as loose pieces which strip out with the anode and are then stripped therefrom.

In the normal operation of the mold illustrated, the end plate 24 rests on the floor and is so attached to the lower mold section l2 that the upper edge of one leg thereof is approximately level with the other, as shown in Figure 2. The horse or support 28 is of such height that the mold section I2 is inclined at an angle of about 30 to the horizontal for convenient pouring. The top section In of the mold is then lowered into position by manipulation of the hoist, and the end bearing portions 20 and 22 are engaged with the grooved seats [6 and I8. Continued lowering movement of the hoist then permits the upper section It! to gently slide downwardly until it comes to rest against the end plate 24, it being understood that during this initial assembling of the parts, the yokes 34 and 35 are swung to inactive position so as to facilitate the nesting of the section ID with the section l2. Thereafter the yokes are swung to the active position of Figure 2, and the bolts 42 and 42 are tightened.

Since the section I2 is slightly longer than the section In, the metal to be cast is poured on the upper receiving portion 32, Usually the overall length of the mold is approximately 12 to 18 inches longer than the desired length of the finished anode. In the molding of tin anodes for use in electrolytic processes, it is desirable to cast the same somewhat longer than the desired length of the finished anode, and the top portion, such as indicated by dotted lines in Figure- 4, is cropped off by shearing or milling, so as to eliminate the crop end, which usually contains blow-holes, pipes, or porous portions occasioned by evolution of gases from the lower portion of the mold.

In the modification of Figures and 6, the mold sections Ill and I2 are formed with inclined or undercut grooves I5 and I8 forming seats for correspondingly inclined edge portions 20 and 22*, so that the two mold sections easily slip into correct position for clamping when they are placed together for assembly. In this modification there are illustrated cam-type clamps M which are pivotally connected by studs 34 with links 34 in turn mounted on studs 34 secured to lugs 34 extending outwardly from the mold sections. The eccentric or cam portions 34 of the clamps are adapted to wedgingly engage outwardly extended lugs 34 having appropriately shaped faces 34 for coaction with the cam portions 34.

While I have described quite precisely certain embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, it will be understood that various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art Without departure from the invention as defined i the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mold of the character herein shown and described, consisting of a pair of complementary coacting sections of substantially right-angular cross-sectional contour, one of said sections having machined grooves extending longitudinally thereof along its inner edges and the other of said sections having mating edge portions machined to neatly fit said grooves, and a plurality of clamp members pivotally mounted to one of said sections adjacent outer faces thereof disposed at right angles to one another, said clamp members having elements engaging faces of the other section disposed at right angles to one another whereby the components of the forces jointly exerted by said clamp members firmly press the mating edge portions of one section cornerwise into the grooves of the other section.

2. A mold of the character herein shown and described, consisting of a pair of complementary interfitting sections of substantially right-angular cross section, one of said sections having depressed grooves extending longitudinally of the inner edges thereof and the other of said sections having mating projections extending along the inner edges thereof, a plurality of approximately U-shaped clamp members one of which is pivotally mounted adjacent one face of one of said sections and the other of which is pivotally mounted adjacent a face at right angles thereto, the free ends of said clamp members being adapted to engage the outer faces of theother of said sections disposed at right angles to one another, whereby the said clamp members jointly press the projections of one section cornerwise into the mating groove of the other section.

JAMES G. HUEY. 

